20712: He cannot perform the prayer on time because of his work. What should he do?

I'm living in Australia and I'm working at a fast food restaurant which mainly sell chicken. I work there 3 times a week. Each day I work for 3-4 hours non-stop (without break - anyone who works there for less than 5 hours doesn't get a break). Because of the Daylight savings and the changing prayer time, at one point in time I would have to miss one prayer - Ashar when I work. When that time comes, is it alright if I combine the prayer e.g Ashar and Maghrib together? Right now, I don't miss any prayer because my work doesn't interfere with my praying time. I have been thinking and feeling rather stress out about this. Please help me clear this. Thank you so much.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

We have already stated in the answer to question no.
21958 that it
is not permissible to delay the prayer beyond its time because of work.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Men whom neither trade nor sale (business) diverts from
the remembrance of Allaah (with heart and tongue) nor from performing
As‑Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑Salaah) nor from giving the Zakaah. They fear a Day
when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror of the torment of
the Day of Resurrection).

That Allaah may reward them according to the best of their
deeds, and add even more for them out of His Grace. And Allaah provides
without measure to whom He wills”

[al-Noor 24:37-38]

So you must organize your time at work in a way that will not
interfere with your performing the prayers on time and work out an agreement
on a suitable solution with the administration, even if that causes you some
difficulty, such as working extra hours, for example. Note that the benefits
of increased faith in your heart that you will get as a result of praying on
time will compensate for any difficulties you encounter, and that hardship
will turn to joy – in sha Allaah – because you will be putting up with it
for the sake of Allaah and seeking His pleasure.

Secondly:

Something that the questioner deserves to be appreciated for
is his regret at having missed prayers and having prayed them at the wrong
time. This is how the believer should be, he should feel regret if he misses
out on some righteous deed. But this regret should be a motive for him to
correct his actions and avoid falling short in them. If he feels regret in
his heart yet he still persists in missing prayers and doing bad deeds, then
this is not right.

Thirdly:

You say that you join ‘Asr and Maghrib prayers before the
start of your shift or afterwards.

You should note that the prayers which are allowed to be
joined according to sharee’ah are Zuhr and ‘Asr, or Maghrib and ‘Isha’.
These are the combinations mentioned in sharee’ah. As for joining ‘Asr and
Maghrib, this is not narrated in sharee’ah and is not valid. This was not
suggested by any of the scholars. Based on that, if you have joined ‘Asr and
Maghrib after sunset, you have to repent to Allaah for delaying ‘Asr prayer
until its time was over, and you have to resolve not to do such a thing
again.

If you joined ‘Asr and Maghrib before the time for Maghrib
began, which is sunset, then you should note that prayers done before their
time begins are not valid, so this Maghrib prayer of yours is not valid.
Based on this you have to figure out the number of times that you prayed
Maghrib before its time began – if you are uncertain then you should be on
the safe side and assume it is the higher number – and repeat those prayers.
Hasten to do that as much as you can.

Fourthly:

You must try hard to solve this problem. It will not take you
more than ten minutes to do this thing, so you can agree with the boss that
you will make up this time before or after your shift. You may not be able
to imagine that you can ask permission for ten minutes from work, but if you
wanted to go to the bathroom they would never stop you from doing that, even
though that may take the same amount of time or more. In your country there
may be laws that protect the rights of minorities to practise their religion
and which oblige bosses to respect the religion of those who work for them.
You may have such laws which will enable you to ask for your rights.

If it is too difficult for you, and you cannot solve this
problem with the administration, then you have to look for another job which
will not conflict with your establishing regular prayer. If you cannot find
any other job and you will be adversely affected by your leaving this job,
then there is the hope that this may be regarded as a necessity that will
permit your joining your prayers and there will be no sin on you in that
case, in sha Allaah.

You can join Zuhr and ‘Asr, at the time of either of them,
and you can join Maghrib and ‘Isha’ at the time of either of them, depending
on what is easier for you.

We ask Allaah to help us to understand Islam and to do and say good things, and to make things easy for you.